This summer, my Dad was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.The good news is: It was a false diagnosis. He doesn't have ALS.The bad news is: He does have Parkinson's Disease.My Dad is only 55, and has apparently had the disease for a very long time. He's young. It sucks. I don't want to watch my Dad struggle for the rest of his life, and he will, so I have to. There are a lot of similarities between Lou Gehrig's and Parkinson's, but at the end of the day, it boils down to this: You don't die from Parkinson's Disease, you die with Parkinson's Disease. You can have it for a while. ALS patients die from ALS -- and usually in a matter of years. It is fatal, and it is quick. It will kill you.So, as the Ice Bucket Challenge started to fill up my newsfeed, and I learned even more about ALS, I thought to myself -- if I'm upset that my Dad has Parkinson's Disease, I can't imagine how upset someone is whose Dad has ALS. My Dad's degenerative disorder is going to bring our family challenges, absolutely ... but those challenges vary from patient to patient in severity. There's no certainty that he will have symptoms X, Y, and Z. ALS patients aren't so lucky -- they are told that their motor neurons WILL waste away and WILL progressively disable X, Y, and Z. Eventually, they will NOT be able to breathe on their own. They will NOT be able to speak. They will NOT be able to use their limbs. The list goes on. There isn't a cure for either disease, but there are treatments available for Parkinson's. ALS is extremely underfunded; there's not a whole lot that can be done. You get that diagnosis, and you know for a fact that your clock is ticking -- and that while it ticks, you will suffer slowly and painfully, and so will everyone around you. It's terrifying. So, I thought to myself: my Dad's condition could be something else that's a whole lot worse. No one wants a disease that eats away at your physical and mental capabilities: that's horrific, sad, awful. But if you're going to have one: the last one you want is ALS.If you haven't already seen this video... {or, even if you have}:

This is why the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is important:Something invaluable that I learned in my Service Learning class in Africa and from volunteering in townships there -- the absolute best thing you can do for a cause is give your time. Not your money -- your time. Your energy, your presence, your being. Here's a secret: donations and fundraisers are happening ALL THE TIME, EVERY DAY, for EVERY charity out there even when there's not a "social media trend" going on. There will always be money being donated to charity. It doesn't take a "challenge" of any kind to provoke that. Granted, challenges ABSOLUTELY help, considering ALS has received tens of millions of dollars since the Ice Bucket Challenge launched just a few weeks ago. But, viewing a donation as a cop-out to avoid pouring ice on your head is backwards. That mindset saddens me.So, what does a challenge do? It says -- no -- it SCREAMS: "I care enough about this cause to give it 10 minutes of my life, in order for the people who follow me on social media to see that I want to increase their awareness. I care enough about the people who suffer from this disease to show them that I will give my time to them in hopes that something good will come out of it." A donation is great, it's wonderful, it's NEEDED. But the Ice Bucket Challenge says: "I'll give you my time. I really care." When a donation is made to a cause, that cause is hopefully a step closer to developing a treatment, a drug, a better understanding, maybe even a cure. But what it doesn't do is make a statement. It's quiet. The Ice Bucket Challenge loudly joins together a ridiculous number of people in publicly showing support for the cause, many of the videos giving facts, stats, stories, and information. If you feel that many of the videos aren't promoting awareness, you're misstating what I think you really mean, and I think what you really mean is to say that you feel that many of the videos are not providing information. This is partially true, and I partially agree with this. This is the reason that I included facts in my video and a link to make a donation. ALL videos are providing awareness, you're reaching an endless number of people on the internet. But here's where I don't agree: every video that is posted on social media, whether it includes information about ALS or not, is reaching someone, and that someone might be encouraged to research ALS on their own. Whether or not you provided the information isn't the point. The point is that the video caught their attention, they realize that the cause has gone viral, and they look it up on their own. Which is undoubtedly happening.Another problem I have: I'm confused by the cyncial, skeptical commentary like, "Why ALS?" or seeing captions on videos like, "My Dad has this disease, so instead of ALS, I'm doing it for this disease." Supporting any cause is great, but from someone whose Dad does have a different disease, I can say this: LET THE ALS COMMUNITY HAVE THEIR FREAKING SPOTLIGHT. Eventually, the Ice Bucket Challenges will slow down. You'll see fewer and fewer on your newsfeeds. Facebook won't be "bombarded" by them anymore, but the ALS community will still be suffering. What is the big deal? Let this underfunded, terrible, terrible cause gain the attention that it so rightfully deserves. It's okay to support any and every cause, but to publicly say that your video is for something else is just downright rude. "Hey, ALS Patient! See my video! Oh wait, it's not for you!"ALS is a mean disease that is sparking a wide variety of emotions, pushing commentary to spread like wildfire. And you know what? I'm so glad. I don't personally know anyone with ALS, and I hope to God I never do, but that doesn't mean that I'll give this cause any less of my attention. I feel awful for these people, and I am very glad that this "social media trend" has, if nothing else, lifted their spirits. A closing note to the critics: Stop analyzing the shit out of the Ice Bucket Challenge. If you're really on your high horse and you can't find 10 minutes to swallow your pride and make a video, or make a donation, or both...then you can do the ALS community {and everyone else on Facebook} a favor -- and shut up.And a note to my Dad, who is definitely reading this, because he is my biggest fan on my blog: I know you are probably not happy that I wrote about your Parkinson's on my blog, and if you want me to take it down, then I will. But, you are my hero, and I hope and pray that everyone who suffers from any degenerative disorder will know that they have so much support.xoxo,Anna

Very well written Anna! I also did not know of your dad's illness and will pray for him every day. He and I hit it off as two guys can when we first met and I think the world of him and your entire family. Keep up the great work at school and with all your other activities!

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Anna Michelle Larimore

8/24/2014 12:33:20 pm

Thank you, Mr. F!! We appreciate it!!

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Danielle

8/26/2014 03:25:55 am

Love this post and everything in it. Also love you so much Mr. Tom...because I know you will see this too :)